Windows to the Soul is a multimedia installation project that examines Bibi Zolika Ally’s experiences surrounding her childhood eye trauma, partial blindness and healing process. The project references her memory of the trauma and hints at details from her past, but emphasizes her lifelong process of recovery. It explores her sense of loss and her strategies for coping, including the ocular prosthetic lens that she wears. Building on her association with ocularist Darren Hall, as well as his own experience creating lenses and working with a diverse group of patients, the installation juxtaposes Ally's personal story with the work of the ocularist.
By using a mix of photography, video and artifacts, Windows to the Soul brings to light questions about vision itself—an inherently reflexive subject for visual media.
Gallery 1313 Installation
A view of the installation at Gallery 1313 in Toronto, upon entering the gallery.
June 11-21, 2015
Collection of Lenses
Centrepiece of the lens photo series
Ocular Prosthetic Lenses
The lens photo series shows a range of lenses, offering a glimpse at the details and variety in the lens work
Ocularistry
The video on the left shows an ocularist at work, with accompanying audio that fleshes out technical details as well as the ocularist perspective
The companion print series on the right shows details that viewers can study more closely than the video...
Ocularist Handiwork
Video footage of ocularist trainee Mitch Pilon at work, with accompanying audio by ocularist Darren Hall relating technical details and some of his experience working in the industry over the past few decades
Shift...
Moving through the gallery space, from the clinical work to the more personal..
False Eyes and Hidden Eyes
The GoPro serves as a false eye, allowing Bibi Z. Ally to capture her own POV footage, while her real eyes stay hidden under dark shades...
She is then captured here for viewers with the photographer's camera - another false eye - with him caught in the reflection of her lens...
Another View...
View of the gallery, showing a part of Bibi Z. Ally's story...
First Lens
Bibi Z. Ally's first prosthetic lens, on display in the show
Semi-Private Screening Room
A more intimate space to take in the more personal story...
"It's Nice to Be Normal"
A video portrait and collage charting Bibi Z. Ally's experience
Faux Polaroids
Promotional 'polaroids' that encourage viewers to interact with the work in the gallery space more intimately and then take a bit of it home for themselves.
In doing so, subject matter that is innately private becomes public, only to become private again...